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Hunting & Fishing Your “go to” hunting rifle?

I have many but my old mk v stainless. 257 is my go to. And it looks it, I know its heavy but worth the weight to me. It's been 100 percent since new.
 
Not a fan, bolt lift is really heavy and yhe action is really heavy. Id suggest the Curtis if you want 3 lugs, its amazing. Where are you located? I may have a 338 norma hitting the market.

Ah thanks mate. I’m in Aus, so the Curtis actions probably won’t be readily available here for a while. I might rule out the badger now though, too many people have commented on the weight and bolt lift.
 
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Remington 700 SS blueprinted action, 21" Bartlein #2 contour 1-11 twist 308, bedded in a Mcmillan hunter's edge stock and sighted in at 200 yards. Scope is an NSX 2-10 x 32 Mildot with a Kenton industries turret for my load. 165 Federal trophy bonded tip at 2740 FPS.
Rifle also has NECG express sights for backup.

Headed out for 2 weeks scouting and a week hunt at the end of September for elk in NM.
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Good morning,

What is your “go to” hunting rifle and caliber for big game where you live?

The one you grab that you have the most confidence in?

If you don’t hunt big game then share your version of your go to hunting rifle.

Thank you for playing.
When I was a young man growing up in south central Pennsylvania my Dad gave me a lever action Marlin 336 in 35 Remington for my 14th birthday. Since in the Pennsylvania woods most shots were under 100 yards the Marlin worked pretty well. Iron sights, no scope to monkey with, just a proven deer killer. One hell of a brush buster too.
 
When I was a young man growing up in south central Pennsylvania my Dad gave me a lever action Marlin 336 in 35 Remington for my 14th birthday. Since in the Pennsylvania woods most shots were under 100 yards the Marlin worked pretty well. Iron sights, no scope to monkey with, just a proven deer killer. One hell of a brush buster too.
Killed a truck load of deer in Georgia with the same rifle. Gave a can full of M193 ammo for it and couple boxes of cartridges. Best trade I ever made
 
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Indiana the range is limited to about 200 yards in the woods, typically much shorter. So my go to deer rifle is a Ruger 77/44 in .44 mag. It is small, light, and accurate.

Coyote hunting in cornfields I use a Savage stealth in .308, vortex PST Gen II 5-25, ASR break and Omega can.
 
My Browning X-Bolt in 7mm Rem Mag. Its accurate and reliable. Its also not prohibitively heavy and can kill anything in N. America.
 
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Indiana the range is limited to about 200 yards in the woods, typically much shorter. So my go to deer rifle is a Ruger 77/44 in .44 mag. It is small, light, and accurate.

Have one of those modded by SRT, just have tried to field it other then coyotes yet. One of these days.
 
Not my most accurate, but by far the one I would take when wading into an alder thicket after a 10' brown bear (and did this spring).

Kimber Montana 338-06 with 3-9 SWFA. 6.75 pounds scoped, 21" barrel, and 210 Sciroccos at 2830 fps with 4+1 in the mag its a little handy power house.
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Wyoming...10 yards to ?

Blaser R8 300 Norma Berger 230 @ 2905 ATACR 4-16 TIER 1 20moa base/rings/level combo 7” TBAC ULTRA
Functions regardless of conditions, accurate and it kill anything.
1954 Winchester 30-30 170 grain Win PP Factory ammo. Great lightweight Timber gun and amazingly accurate.
35 year old build Mauser 280 rem Douglas match barrel timney trigger SB 6x42 Norma 156 Oryx @ 2800

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Depending on the game, it is either a Borden-built .300 Win mag (Borden Rimrock action, Jewell trigger; Schneider #5 barrel; McMillan Game Scout stock); or a .308 built by War Rifles (Rem 700; Bartlien 3B barrel, Timney trigger, McMillan Game Scount stock).
 
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Goto would be my Tikka T3x CTR in .260 with AAC Cyclone. Taken plenty of deer and antelope with this one. Off the shelf Prime 130's, or some 136 scenars over imr4350. Never had to track an animal after.

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Largely depends on where I’m hunting and what I’m hunting timber, I take a 14.5” AR with a 1-6x. Works from varmints, hogs, coyotes, up to whitetail.

For open country or bigger game, I take a custom .280 AI on a trued SS700. Typically swap between a ZEISS and a Mark 6 depending on what my needs are for the hunt.
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That is a thing of beauty...how do you like the PRS? I am thinking of getting one for my Tikka and eventually sending to DMR to install a 18” Proof barrel.
Thanks man!
I would highly recommend it(y) You've got yourself a good plan. You won't be disappointed going that route
 
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FN commercial post war 98 mauser in 30-06. It ALWAYS works and is pretty accurate.
Alternately, if in heavy brush, Marlin 1895G with 405 Lead Flat nose bullet at around 1600 fps. Should work ok....
 
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Mossberg MVP Scout in .308. It’s a short rifle good for climbing around in stuff. I have to get a little closer than my other rifles (100 yds), but it’s my favorite to go into the field with.
 
My tried and, true Rem 700, 308 ..my First rifle was a Mauser 98 re barreled to 30.06 sporter ..I was maybe 13..thanks Dad! Lol
 
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Two of them, both inherited, both used on Missouri whitetails off grain fields, and in Arkansas moving forward.

Ruger M77 30-06 that rode around in the back seat of grandpas pickup for years on end until I got it. Just spiffed it up with an LRHS 4.5-18 from Bushnell.

Winchester M70 Featherweight in .270, topped with Leupold 4-12x40. Dad’s rifle, he bought it to go hunt in Wyoming 20+ years ago. I call it mine since it’s in my safe. He might disagree with ownership!
 
Hopefully I can draw first blood next weekend in the ADKs of upstate NY w my new toy! Started out as a new Chiappa 1886 Ridge Runner Takedown 45/70 and was sent out to Cogan custom for a long list of work. Barrel chopped w custom muzzle brake, hard chromed, action/trigger job, remount sight works both front and rear, custom built Talley bases, Cerokoted the stock.
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Tikka T3 wood stock in a .243 most accurate factory rifle I have ever owned. To be fair about the only thing we can hunt with rifles in IL is coyotes and paper though.
 
For yotes and whitetail I have a 700 cdl in .25-06. Leupold vx3 3-9x40. If I ever get lucky enough to get drawn for a KY elk tag I'll take the .300 wm. Last year I shot a few doe with my daughter's 7mm-08 not as fond of it as my .25-06 though.